Plug-switch.



No.-768,925. PATENTED AUG. 30, 19044' J. I. AYER.

PLUG SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1904.

NO MODEL. 2 sums-sum 1.

No. 768,925. PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904. J. L AYER.

PLUG SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1904. no MODEL. 2 sums-sum z.

UNTTED STATES Patented August 30, 1904.

PATENT Orrrcn.

JAMES I. AYER, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SIMPLEX ELECTRIC HEATING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A COR- PORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

PLUG-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 768,925, dated August 30, 1904.

Application filed June 11, 1904. Serial No. 212,068. (No model.)

To (all whom, it nuty concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES I. AYER, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Cambridge, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Plug-Switches, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a plug-switch of the class wherein the plug is connected to one or more circuits supplying articles or devices to be operated and provides means whereby when the plug is inserted into or removed from the current-supplying circuit one or more signal-circuits will be simultaneously closed or opened.

The nature of the invention will appear from the following description and is defined in the appended claims.

Figure l of the drawings illustrates in perspective and diagrammatically a switch-plug with a connected circuit and motor. Fig. 2 illustrates in a similar manner a current-supplying circuit, a signal-circuit, and contacts therefor embodying one form of the invention. Fig. 8 illustrates in a similar manner to Fig. 2 another form of the invention. Fig. 4: illustrates in a similar manner to Fig. 2 a third form of the invention. Fig. 5 illustrates in a similar manner another form of the invention wherein a plurality of plugswitches are connected with a single signalcircuit. Fig. 6 illustrates in a similar manner one form of the invention applied to an ordinary incandescent-lamp socket, the end of the incandescent lamp being shown with the lamp broken away.

In switches of this character the switchplug, herein represented as P, forms the two insulated terminals P P of a current-consuming circuit, the consumer here being illustrated in Fig. 1 as a motor M; butit is obvious that the current-consuming circuit may supply many varieties of devices and apparatus. The source of electric energy is shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 as a battery B; but it is also obvious that the current may be supplied from any form of electrical generator. The current-supplying circuit connects with two contact-plates C C, suitably insulated from each otheras, for example, by the connection with the insulating-base R, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and A. In this type of switch when the plug P is inserted between the contacts C C of the currentesupplying circuit the current is supplied to the consumer. It is frequently desirable to have the fact that the connection has been made by the plug P with the contacts C C indicated by a signal at one or more distant points. That this may be accomplished automatically is the purpose of the present invention.

In Fig. 2 is shown another pair of contactplates C C, said pair forming the terminals of an open signal-circuit, the signals here being shown as incandescent lamps L. It is obvious that there may be as many signal-circuits as desired and that each circuit may contain one or more of the signals located at the desired points, or there may be one or more signals located at difierent points in the same signal-circuit.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 the pair of contact-plates C C are shown in line with the contact-plates C C of the current-supplying circuit and the plug P is made of sufficient length so that when it is inserted between the contacts C C it can at the same time be inserted between the contacts C C. It will thus be seen that upon the insertion of the plug P not only will the current be supplied to the consuming-circuit, but at the same time, by means of the contact of the terminals P P with the contacts C C on each side, the current will be simultaneously supplied to the signal-circuit and the signal or signals thus operated.

In Fig. 3 is shown another form which the invention may take. Here the contacts C C* of the signal-circuit are arranged at one side of the contacts C C of the current-supplying circuit. One of these contacts (1* may take the form of a rod O, normally retracted by a spring S and having a head reaching in between the contacts C C. When, therefore,

the plug P is inserted between the contacts C U, the spring-pressed rod O is operated to bring the contacts I C" together.

In Fig. a is shown a third form which the invention may take. Here the contacts C U of the signal-circuit are arranged one on each side of the contacts C C of the current-supplying circuit and take the form of resilient plates extending in between the contacts 0 0. Hence when the plug P is inserted between the contacts C C it will at the same time contact with the contacts 0 (l and close the signal-eircuit.

In Fig. 5 I have shown still another form which my invention may assume, and in this embodiment a single signal is so arranged that it will indicate when any one of a number of plug-switches is closed. As shown in said Fig. 5, a plurality of plug-receptacles are employed, each comprising the pair of contacts the contacts of each pair, as well as the pairsoi' contacts, being insulated from each other. Each pair of contacts U 0 form the terminals of a current-supplying circuit, including a suitable generator B, said current-supplying circuits being shown as inclependent from each other. Associated with each pair of contacts 0" U is another pair of contacts C, the contacts of each pair C, as well as the contacts of the separate pairs, being insulated from each other. The signal is designated by L and may be of any suitable or usual kind, said. signal being in a signalcircuit V, which is connected to each pair of contacts C. The contact of each pair therefore forms the terminals of the signal-circuit. Each of said pairs of contacts C is so arranged that when the plug P is placed between the corresponding pair of contacts 0 it will at the same time contact with said contacts C, and thus close the signal-circuit. By thus connecting the signal-circuit to each of the pairs of contacts C" the signal will indicate when any one of the current-supplying circuits is closed.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a specific application of my invention wherein the consumingcircuit is that which operates an incandescent lamp. In said figure, Gr indicates the screwthreaded end of an ordinary incandescent lamp, and H is a metal threaded socket into which the lamp is screwed, as usual. This socket connected to and sustained by an ordinary metallic shell J by any suitable means. (Not shown.) Supported by the shell J, but insulated from each other, are two terminals m and w. The current-supplying circuit includes the generator I) and the wires 0, which connect said generator to the screy -threaded socket H in some suitable way and to the terminal m. The signal L is in a signal-circuit which connects to the terminal a and also to the metallic screw-threaded shell H, as shown. Whenever the end Gr is screwed into the socket, both the current-supplying and the signal circuit will be closed simultaneously, as will be obvious. In this case the lamp operates as the plug, which is placed in the plug-receptacle, the latter being the metallic shell J and the parts associated with it.

The particular form of signal herein illustrated is not essential to the invention, as any signal may be used which is adapted to be operated by the closing of the signal-circuit.

From the constructions illustrated in the drawings it will be seen that the invention may take various forms and may involve various arrangements of signal-circuits and various combinations of the signals without departing from the scope of the invention.

The switch may be said to comprise two partsviz., first, the plug adapted to be connected with the current-consumer, and, second, the plug-receptacle. which plug-receptacle in turn comprises the pairs of contacts. one of which pairs is adapted to be connected to the current-supplying circuit and one or more of the other pairs of which are adapted to be connected to one or more signal-circuits.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An electric plug-switch comprising a plug which forms the terminals of a consumingcircuit, and a plug-receptacle comprising contact-terminals of both acurrent-supplying circuit and an independent signal-circuit, whereby upon the insertion and removal of the plug in the plug-receptacle the signal-circuit is closed and opened simultaneously with the closing and opening of the current-consuming circuit.

2. An electric plug-switch comprising a plug which forms the terminals of a consumingcircuit, a plug-receptacle comprising alined pairs of contacts, the pairs of contacts being connected respectively to a current-smnplying and a signal-operating circuit, whereby upon the insertion and removal of the plug in the plug-receptacle between the pairs of alined contacts the signal-circuit is closed. and opened simultaneously with the closing and opening of the current-eonsuming circuit.

3. An electric plug-switch comprising a plug, said plug being composed of two plates insulated one from the other and forming the terminals of the consuming-circuit, a plug-receptacle comprising alined pairs of contacts, the pairs of contacts being connected respectively to current-supplying and signal-open ating circuits, whereby upon the insertion and removal of the plug in the plug-receptacle between the pairs of alined contacts the signalcircuit is closed and opened simultaneously with the closing and opening of the currentconsuming circuit.

4:. In a device of the class described, aplurality of pairs of contacts, each pair comprising the terminals of a current-supplying circuit, a signal-circuit having a signal therein,

and removal of a plug in any one of the plugreceptacles the signal circuit is closed and opened simultaneously with the closing or opening of either current-consuming circuit.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J AS. I. AYER. VVitnes'ses:

CHARLES W. RICHARDS, SAML. S. BOYD. 

